FACTORS AFFECTING GRADE XI STUDENTS IN

CHOOSING THEIR ACADEMIC STRAND

A Research Paper Presented to Mr. Ron Francis Berbaño

Secondary Teacher of Practical Research

Notre Dame of Isulan Inc.

RESEARCHERS

DAUD JOHARA

CORPUZ CIDROCK

GRADE 11-GAS

1
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Choosing a strand is one of the most life-altering decisions that an individual can make, and
choosing the right strand is a stressful process for upcoming Senior High School students. It can be a task,
which needs decision to be made or a difficult situation involving several issues for decision making. “Making a
decision implies that there are alternatives choices to be considered, and in such a case we want not only to
identify as many of these alternatives as possible but to choose the one that best fits with our goals, objectives,
desired, values, and so on.” (Harris, 1980) For every student choosing the best strand can be a difficult decision
as well as thinking about their future career.

Grade 11 students may not have solid decision on where to go in senior high and what strand they may possibly
take. They are planning to enter senior high without clear idea of what career to pursue for their future (Ramirez
&Dizon, 2014). They may sometimes consider the people and the information they received within their
environment.

Shumba and Naong (2012) found out that the family is a significant factor in determining children’s strand choice, the
ability of the learner self to identify his preferred strand, and teachers influence strand choice of their learners. These
findings are consistent with the findings of other studies that have examined the influences of each parent on the strand
choices of their sons or daughters and have found that mothers tend to have more influence on the strand decision and
aspirations of their children than fathers.

A student will choose a strand which he/she will be studying throughout his/her shs years, and decision-making
should take part and should not take for granted. The decision of which strand to take is one of the farthest
decisions for a students. Making decision implies that there are choices to be considered, and in such case we
want only to identify as many of these alternatives as possible but to choose the one that best fits with our goals,
objectives, desires, values and so on. (Harris (1980) Decision making is the best way to get one's satisfaction,
and considered as the best-required thing to do to have a successful and a very satisfying life. One decent
decision that a person will do can make a huge impact in his or her life.
2
Statement of the Problem

The study aimed to determine the Factors Affecting Grade XI Students in choosing their
Academic strand.

Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:

• What are the factors affecting Grade XI students of the Notre Dame of Isulan in choosing their
senior high school academic strand.

Purpose of the Study

This study is important to the grade 11 students to help them choose wisely in choosing their academic
strand , and also the parents as well as the teachers for them to know what are the factors and to assess
the students in choosing their academic strand that fits to their skills.

Scope and Delimitation

This study focuses on the the factors affecting the Grade XI students in choosing their academic strand
on The Notre Dame of Isulan . The collection of data will be conducted on the selected Grade XI students in
The Notre Dame of Isulan . This study will not address other issues that are not considered as the factors
affecting the Grade XI students in The Notre Dame of Isulan. There would be 5 Grade XI students considered as
participants to be interviewed. Each Grade XI students was given the same questions to answer. The other
Grade XI students that have not been selected are not within the scope of this research. The researchers will be
able to know the factors affecting the Grade XI students in choosing their academic strand in The Notre Dame
of Isulan based on their strategy.

3
 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
 
This chapter presents the related literature and studies after a thorough and in-depth 
Search done by the researchers.

 RELATED LITERATURE 

There are many influences that affect the preferences of grade 11 students in choosing their academic strand.
The decision on good career choice and school sometimes depend on how the way students perceive the world
and their future. Some of them may not have enough knowledge and consciousness about how they should
process information from personal, social, economic, political, spiritual and environmental aspects of putting
into context and realization of having a successful profession. Choosing and deciding on something have
consequences. The results of what you have chosen can either help you, it will hinder you in the future. It is also
the same with the course that you will have to decide.

In choosing a strand , there are a lot of factors that the student must consider. According to Boyer (1987), "in
taking a strand , one of the life's major decision is being made. A lot of time, money, and effort will be involved.
The shape and excellence of the student's lifemay rest on the result." In choosing a junior, senior academic track,
a student should take a risk. F. Yates, Veinotte, &Patalano (2003) define a decision as “... a commitment to a
course of action that is intended to produce a satisfying state of affairs.

There are some factors that impact the students from high school decision in what path they should take.
Choosing a track should not be taken or granted and this study aims to know what would be the stations of the
incoming grade 11 students in Notre Dame of Isulan in choosing a track based on the results of the survey gave
to them. In this case, the study will conclude what could be the things that the students should consider in
choosing a track. This related literature contributed facts and results from previous studies that help in the
stratification of the present study. Researcher revealed that many individuals especially students could agree
that in deciding on whatever specifically on the track is not easy and there are many factors that the student will
face.

 
RELATED STUDIES

Some students know exactly which course to pursue while others do not know. Career can be defined by the
total pattern of one’s activities held during a person’s lifetime. It can also be determine the individual personally
because it describes who the person is. Therefore, choosing an appropriate career is very important for every

4
individual (NCDA, 2003) as this help to determine their future. The advent of information technology, the
emergence of post industrial revolution and job competition career choice turn out to be a complex science.

Ibrahim (2017) revealed that family members have the highest contributions in influencing students to
the profession of medical laboratory science due to the fact that family is usually who provided financial
supports to them. Eremie and Okwulehie (2018) indicated that factors such as environmental, opportunity and
personality can influence the choice of strand among grade 11 students. In terms of environmental
factors, it revealed that family, socioeconomic status and peer groups have significant influence of the students’
choice of career while in opportunity factors such as education and mentorship also had influence to the choice
of strand as well as the personality factors such as the students’ interest, values and skills in choosing their
strand.

References:

(Harris, 1980) , Shumba and Naong (2012) , (Ramirez &Dizon, 2014) , Boyer (1987), F. Yates, Veinotte, &Patalano (2003) ,
(NCDA, 2003) , Ibrahim (2017) , Eremie and Okwulehie (2018)